Control device



March 1935- L. w. EGGLESTON ET AL CONTROL DEVI CE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 16, 1952 I INVENTORS M1 ORNEY March 9 L. w. EGGLESTON In AL CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 16, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES,

CONTROL DEVICE Lewis W. Eggleston and Earnest J. Dillman,

Detroit, Mich., assignors to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 16, 1932, Serial No. 605,592

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in control devices, and more particularly to a device having means responsive to a fluid characteristic such as pressure, temperature, or a hygroscopic condition, and for actuating a-control means, such for example as a switch or the like. It is therefore one object of our invention to provide such a device which is of simple construction, having a minimum number of parts, and which will operate efficiently. Another object is to provide a device which is adapted among other uses to be supported in intimate thermal relation to a fluid conducting pipe or the like.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification, we have fully and clearly illustrated two embodiments of our invention, in which drawings- Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a device embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation with the cover or closure member removed, and with certain parts in vertical section;

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views;

Fig. 5 is a view in section on the line 55 of Fig. 2, but showing the cover member in place, and

Fig. 6 is a view partly in vertical central section of another embodiment of our invention.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates generally a support or base member preferably in the form of a casing having a vertical rear, wall 2, from the periphery of which projects a -forwardly extending continuous side wall 3. At opposite points the wall 3 has alined apertures 4, 5. The aperture 4 receives a plate member 6 which fits therein and has a marginal flange conforming to and overlying the wall 3. The member 6 is secured rigidly to the casing by screws 7, or the like, which extend through the plate member and are threaded into the wall 3. The member 6 has an outwardly extending tubular projection 3 provided with a longitudinal bore 9 which opens at its inner end through the plate member, and which is preferably internally threaded at its outer end. The inner end of the bore is preferably flared and opens into a cylindrical recess 10 in the plate member. An annular groove 11 surrounds the recess 16 and receives one end of a cylindrical casing 12, which end is sealed in the groove by solder, or the like. The other end of the casing 12 has an inwardly directed annular flange 13 to which is secured and sealed one end of an expansible-collapsible element 14, such as a circumferentially corrugated cylindrical resilient metal member or bellows. The element 14 extends into the casing 12 and terminates adjacent the member 6, the diameter of the element preferably being such that it may move into the recess 10. The inner free end of the element is closed and sealed by a rigid head 15, preferably a metal disc or plate, which is secured and sealed along its periphery to the bellows element. A plunger or rod member 16 extends longitudinally through the bellows element and is rigidly connected to the head 15 for reciprocation therewith and thereby. The free end 17 of member 16 is reduced to provide a shoulder, and is preferably oblong in transverse cross-section. On the end 17 there is a substantially U-shaped operating member 18, see Fig. 4, having an arm 19 which is apertured, as at 20, the aperture being substantially oblong to conform to the reduced end 17 so as to hold the member 18 against rotation on plunger 16. The arm 19 is preferably positioned between washers 20 or the like, and is tightly clamped on the plunger so as to be rigid therewith by a post or rod 21 having intermediate its ends a lateral flange 22 which engages the outermost washer 20 The rod 21 is preferably screw-threaded into an internally threaded bore 23 which extends longitudinally into plunger 16, and the flange is preferably polygonal to receive a wrench or the like. Beyond the flange 22 the rod 21 is screw-threaded, as at 23, and has adjustably threaded thereon for longitudinal movement, a cylindrical nut or collar 24 having a lateral annular flange or abutment 25 concentric with the plunger. The free end of rod 21 has a longitudinal bore or socket 26, in which one end of a guide pin 2'7 is tightly seated. A stop member 28 for nut 24, such as a disc, is carried by the pin 27 and is clamped against the end of rod 21 by a shoulder on the pin. The projecting end of the pin 27 terminates in a head or knob 29 which is reciprocable in a guide bore 30 extending longitudinally into an adjustment member 31 concentric with apertures 4, 5. A bearing member 32 flts within the aperture 5 and has a lateral flange which overlies the casing wall 3 to which the flange is secured by screws 33 or the like. The member 31 is preferably a cylindrical rod having intermediate its ends a flange or collar 34 forming a shoulder which bears against the inner face of member 32 with the outer end portion 35 of rod member 31 which is of reduced diameter extending into and rotatably supported in the bore 36 of member 32. The rod portion 35 terminates within an enlarged recess 37 concentric with bore 36, and preferably has an end of polygonal crosssection to receive a key or wrench for rotation of the rod 31. The inner end of rod member 31 is screw-threaded, as at 38, and has a nut or collar 39 threaded thereon for longitudinal adjustment.

Secured to the rear face of collar 39 there is a plate member 40 forming a lateral flange or abutment about the collar 39 and having an aperture 41 through which the rod member 31 extends. A cylindrical flange 42 on the collar 39 also extends through aperture 41 and is turned over upon the member 40 to clamp it tightly to the collar. The member 40 has substantially parallel vertical arms or flanges 43, 44 extending from its front and rear edges, the arm 43 lying closely adjacent the rear wall 2 to prevent, by engagement with wall 2, rotation of the collar 39. The other arm 44 terminates in a forwardly projecting indicator finger or pointer 45, preferably having its lower edge V-shaped in transverse cross-section. The pointer 45 extends into a window aperture 46 provided in a cover or closure member 4'7 for the casing 1. The cover 47 has a lateral circumferential flange 48 which fits over the side wall 3. The pointer 45 cooperates with a scale 49 which may be secured to the cover and which is positioned along the lower edge of aperture 46. Positioned between the flanges or abutments 25, 40, there is a helical spring 50 which surrounds the rods 21 and 31, and is held under compression between the abutments so as to provide means to resist movement of rod 21 toward rod 31. The diameters of the collars 24 and 39 are preferably substantially equal to the internal diameter of the spring helix so as to hold the spring in position.

The operating member 18 extends laterally substantially to the vertical center line of casing 1, where its other arm 51 projects rearward substantially horizontally, but with itsunderside inclined upward to clear the spring 50, see Fig. 5. Projecting forward from wall 2, there is a cylindrical supporting member or shaft 52 having its'longitudinal axis substantially in the plane of arm 51, one end of member 52 preferably being rigidly secured, as at 53, in anaperture in wall 2. A switch tube carrier 54 is journaled on the member 52 for rocking or tilting movement, and preferably comprises a plate extending longitudinally over the member 52 and having at its ends depending apertured bearing flanges 55 through which member 52 extends. The member 54 has laterally spaced depending pins 56, 57 positionedon opposite sides of the shaft 52 and terminating in beveled heads 58 lying on opposite sides of and in substantial engagement with the arm 51. Ex-' tending transversely of the carrier plate there is a clip member 59 rigidly secured, as by rivets, to the plate, and having at its ends upstanding pairs of opposed resilient clips or clamping fingers 60. A weight member 60 may be secured to the clip member to normally urge the tube carrier in a counterclockwise direction. A switch tube 61 is positioned between the fingers 60 and tightly held thereby, the tube preferably oomn ising a sealed glass envelope containing spaced contacts and a globule of mercury operable to make and break circuit at the internal contacts on tilting of the tube. From the tube contacts, not shown, lead wires 62 extend, and are secured to a terminal block 63 fixed within the casing 1.

The tubular plate extension 8 is connected and sealed by means of unions 64 to one end of a conduit 65 having its other end sealed to a bulb 66 so as to provide a closed system which is charged with a volatile liquid responsive to temperature changes. 1

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive is as follows: The spring 50 is set 3 by means of the collar 24 so that response of the device will be in accordance with the indicated adjustment of the spring by rod 31. Rotation of rod 31 will cause the abutment 40 to move longitudinally thereof, due to the flange 43, so that the force exerted by the spring against operation of the switch tube may be readily regulated. When the temperature at the bulb 66 reaches the predetermined degree for which the device is set,'the pressure generated by the volatile liquid in the closed system will act against the pressure responsive means 14 and compress the bellows. As the bellows is compressed or collapsed by pressure in the chamber of casing 12 sufficient to overcome the resistance of spring 50, the plunger 16 and operating member 18 will move therewith. The operating arm 51 will bear against the pin 57 and rotate the switch tube 61 counterclockwise of Fig. 2 to flow the mercury out of engagement with the switch contacts,

thereby breaking the circuit-through the lead wires 62. As the temperature at the bulb 66 drops to the predetermined point at which it is desired to make contact between leads 62, the pressure of the volatilized liquid on the bellows head will decrease and operating member 18 will move, under the force of spring 50, toward the left of Fig. 2 to the position shown, pulling against pin 56 and thereby tilting the switch tube to close the circuit.

In Fig. 6 we have shown another embodiment of our invention. A casing 70 having a substantially vertical rear wall '71 with a forwardly extending, substantially cylindrical side wall '72 has oppositely disposed apertures 73, '74 through the side wall. The aperture 73 is closed by a plate or supporting member 75 having an annular groove within the aperture 73 in which is seated and sealed, as at '76, one end of an expansible-collapsible element 77,.such as a cylindrical circumferentially corrugated resilient metallic member or bellows. The other end of the bellows is closed and'sealed by a metal disc or head 78 through which an operating member, such as a plunger or push-rod 79, extends. The plunger is rigidly fixed and sealed in the head, as at 80, and has a guide member 81, such as a screw, threaded, or otherwise secured in and projecting from the inner end thereof. The member 81 is guided for reciprocation inthe bore of an annular guide plate or block 82 which is secured to the inner face of member 75, preferably by means of an annular flange on the block seating in an annular groove in the member 75. The end of member 81 extends into a recess 83 in member "75, and has a head 84 cooperable with the block to limit expansive movement of the bellows. The plunger 79 is preferably separable, as at 85, external of the bellows, and through the plunger part 86 secured to the bellows head, there is a passage 87 opening into the interior of the bellows and provided at its outer end with a filling tube 88 which extends into the bore 89 of the other plunger part 90, so as to provide a protecting cap for the tube 88. The bellows is charged with a volatile liquid responsive to temperature changes by means of the tube 88 and passage 8'7, after which the tube 88 is sealed, as at 91. The free end of plunger part 90 is of reduced diameter, as at 92, to provide a shoulder 93. A sleeve or tubular member 94 fits 'on the plunger end 92 and is of enlarged internal diameter adjacent its end to provide an abutment seating against shoulder 93. This end of member 94 terminates in a flange 95, preferably circular and concentrically surrounding the plunger. The"other or free end of member 94 member 97 is preferably externally screw-threaded for cooperation with internal threads in aperture 74, and has a head 98 preferably knurled through which are apertures 99 to receive a pin or tool for rotation of the member 97. The inner end of member 97 is of reduced external diameter to provide a shoulder 100. Between the flange 95 and shoulder 100, which define opposite abutments, there is a helical spring 101 which surrounds the end of plunger 79 and tubular member 94 and is held under compression to exert its force to resist expansive movement of the bellows. A bracket arm 102 may be secured externally to the wall 72 adjacent and substantially parallel to the member 97. The arm 102 is provided with a scale 103 having indicia to indicate the adjusted position of the member 97.

The flange 95 is operable to actuate a control means, which in the present embodiment is a mercury tube switch 104 positioned above the plunger, and such as above described. The switch 104 has contact lead wires 105 which are connected to posts 106 on a terminal block 107 fixed in the casing. The switch is held rigidly in a clip member 108 mounted on a carrier 109 having alined apertured flanges 110 through which a supporting shaft 111 extends, the shaft being rigidly fixed to the casing, preferably in the same manner as shaft 52 is fixed to casing 1. Depending from the carrier there are spaced lugs or pins 112, 112 having beveled heads 113 providing knife edges which lie on opposite sides of and in substantial engagement with the flange 95.

The supporting member 75 is rigidly secured to the casing 70 by screws 114 or the like, preferably four in number, symmetrically arranged relative to the plunger so that the casing and control means can be rotated about the plunger through an angle of ninety degrees and be secured in such position by the screws 114 for a purpose to be described. The member 75 is provided with oppositely projecting arms or flanges 115 adapted to lie under clamping bands or straps 116 or the like for rigidly securing the member 75 to a conduit 117, such as a steam pipe. The pipe engaging face of member 75 is preferably V-shaped in a plane parallel to the bands 116 so as to provide two lines of contact with the pipe surface, irrespective of the curvature or external diameter of the pipe.

The operation of the device of Fig. 6 is as follows: As shownrit is-applied to a vertical pipe, but byremoving the screws 114, the supporting member 75 can be rotated through ninety degrees for engagement with a horizontal pipe while retaining the switch tube supporting shaft 111 in a horizontal position, and the screws be then reinserted. Rotation of the sleeve member 97 regulates the force exerted by spring 101 against expansion of the bellows. As the pressure of the volatilized liquid in the bellows 77 increases to the predetermined temperature at which operation of the switch or control device is desired, the plunger 79 will move toward the right of Fig. 6, compressing spring 101 to cause the flange 95 to engage the head of pin 112 and rock the tube 104 on the shaft 111 to break circuit throughlead wires 105. As the temperature decreases below the desired temperature at which contact is to be broken, the pressure in bellows 77 will decrease and spring 101 will expand, moving the plunger to the left of Fig. 6 thereby to tilt the switch tube to the position shown by engagement of flange 95 with the head of pin 112.

It is of course to be understood that the bellows 14 may be subjected to an operating pressure other than the pressure of a volatile liquid responsive to temperature, as the tubular extension 8 may be operatively connected to any other source of fluid pressure, either liquid or gaseous, such, for

examplaas the pressure of a liquid within a vessel or conduit, or the steam pressure of a boiler or the like.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a support, means carried by said support and responsive to a fluid characteristic, 8. horizontally reciprocable member movable by said responsive means, an operating member carried by and projecting transversely from said reciprocable member, said operating member being positioned between the ends of said reciprocable member, means resisting movement of said recipro-= cable member by said responsive means, a movably supported control means positioned at one side and between the ends of said reciprocable member, and spaced abutment members projecting from said control means and receiving therebetween said operating member.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a support, means carried by said support and responsive to a fluid characteristic, a reciprocable thrust member reciprccable along its longitudinal' axis and movable by said responsive means, an operating member movable with and longitudinally of said reciprocabie member, said operating member being positioned between the ends of said reciprocable member, a helical spring surrounding said reciprocable member and having operative engagement therewith to resist movement thereof by said responsive means, a movably supported control means, and spaced abutment members projecting from said control means and receiving therebetween said operating member whereby to positively actuate said control means in opposite directions.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, means responsive to a fluid characteristic and carried by said member, a horizontally movable rod having one end engageable by said responsive means for movement thereby, an abutment member carried by said supporting member concentrically with said rod, an abutment member on said rod, said second-named abutment member having operating means, a helical spring concentric with said rod and positioned between said abutment members whereby to oppose operation of said responsive means, a movably supported control means, and means operatively connecting said control means and said operating means.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, means responsive to a fluid characteristic and carried by said member, a horizontally movable rod having one end engageable by said responsive means for movement thereby, an abutment member carried by said supporting member concentrically with said rod, said abutment member supporting the other end of said rod, an abutment member on said rod, 1

said second-named'abutment member having operating means, a helical spring concentric with said rod and positionedbetween said abutment means, and means operatively connecting said control means and said operating means.

5. A device of the. character described, comprising a supporting member, means responsive to a fluid characteristic and carried by said member, a horizontally movable rod having one end engageable by said responsive means for movement thereby, an abutment member carried by said supporting member concentrically with said rod, said abutment member having an internal longitudinally extending guideway, the other end of said rod extending into said guideway for guided reciprocation, an abutment member on said rod, said second-named abutment member having operating means, a helical spring concentric with said rod and positioned between said abutment members whereby to oppose operation of said responsive means, a movably supported control means, and means operatively connecting said control means and said operating means.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting member, a chamber fixed to said member and having an expansible-collapsible wall movable in response to fluid pressure in said chamber, a rod having operative engagement with and movable by said wall, said rod being supported for substantially horizontal reciprccation, an abutment member having operating means and positioned on said rod, an adjustable abutment member carried by said-supporting member, a spring positioned and held under compression between said abutment members, a movably supported control means, and means operatively connecting said control means and said operating means.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a plate member for .cooperable clamping engagement with an external pipe surface, means to clamp said member to the pipe, an expansiblecollapsible member defining with said plate member a fluid chamber, said plate member forming a side wall of said chamber and being hermetically sealed to said expansible member, arod having operative engagement with said expansible member for movement thereby in response to fluid pressure in said chamber, means resisting movement of said rod by said expansible member, and control means having operative engagement with said rod.

8.'A device of the character described, comprising a supporting member having forwardly extending oppositely positioned flange portions, a pressure responsive chambered element rigidly secured to one of said portions, said element having a movable wall, an abutment member carried by the other of said portions and having a guide bore, a tubular member reciprocable in said'bore and. extending toward said wall, a plunger member rigid with said wall and extending into the bore of said tubular member, means limiting the movement of said plunger member into the bore of said tubular member, said tubular member having a lateral flange, a

'helical spring surrounding said tubular memried by the other of said portions and having a guide bore, a tubular member reciprocable in said bore and extending toward said wall, a plunger member rigid with said wall and extending into the bore of said tubular member, said plunger member having an annular shoulder engaging said tubular member, said tubular member have ing a lateral flange, a helical spring surrounding said tubular member and held under compression between said abutment member and said lateral flange, and control means operatively connected to said lateral flange.

10. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting member having forwardly extending oppositely. positioned flange portions, one of said portions having an aperture therethrough, a plate member secured to the outer face of said one portion and overlying said aperture, a pressure responsive chambered element secured to said plate member and positioned between said flange portions, a plunger rod rigid with said element and movable thereby,

an abutment member mounted on the other of i said flange portions, a helical spring seating against said abutment member and engaging said rod to oppose operation of said rod by said element, an operating member carried by said rod. control means mounted on said supporting member, and means operatively connecting said operating member and said control means.

11. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting member having forwardly extending oppositely positioned flange portions, one of said portions having an aperture therethrough, a plate member secured to the outer face of said one portion and overlying said aperture, a pressure responsive chambered element secured to said plate member and positioned between said flange portions, a plunger rod rigid with said element and movable thereby, anabutment member mounted on the other of said flange portions, a helical spring seating against said abutment member and engaging said rod to oppose operation of said rod by said element, an operating member positioned between said flange portions and carried by said rod, a shaft secured to and projecting forwardly from said supporting member. intermediate said flange portions, a mercury switch element tiltably supported on said shaft, and means rigid with said switch element and operatively connecting said element to said operating member.

12. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting member having a clamping face contoured for engagement with a pipe or other curved surface, means to clamp said supporting member in intimate heat exchange relation to said pipe or surface, an expansiblecollapsible member rigidly secured to said supporting member, a casing carried by said supporting member and adjustably secured thereto for rotation transverse to the longitudinal axis of said .pipe, a thrust member extending from and operable by said expansible member, said thrust member being positioned in said casing, an operating member extending radially fro and transversely to said thrust member, ancta switch member 'pivotally supported by and in said casing, said switch member having operative en= gagement with said operating member and being movable about the longitudinal axis of said thrust member upon adjustment of said casing.

LEWIS W.' EGGLESTON. EARNEST J. DILLMAN. 

